Nebivolol Improves Obesity-Induced Vascular Remodeling by Suppressing NLRP3 Activation

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2019 May;73(5):326-333. doi: 10.1097/FJC.0000000000000667.

Abstract

Nebivolol is a novel β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) blocker with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The NLRP3 inflammasome plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of obesity-induced vascular dysfunction. Our study aimed to explore the effect of nebivolol on the NLRP3 inflammasome and vascular remodeling in diet-induced obese rats. Eight-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed with either a standard chow diet or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks. Next, the obese rats were subdivided into 3 groups as follows: (1) HFD control group, (2) HFD with low doses of nebivolol (5 mg/kg·d), and (3) HFD with high doses of nebivolol (10 mg/kg·d). A 4-week treatment with nebivolol improved acetylcholine-induced vascular relaxation in accordance with an increased aortic endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Nebivolol attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome activation and suppressed autophagy. In parallel, nebivolol enhanced the levels of phase-II detoxifying enzymes, including superoxide dismutase and catalase. These effects were associated with an increased β3-AR level. Moreover, nebivolol treatment significantly increased Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase activity and decreased phosphorylation of the mammalian target of rapamycin. These results demonstrated that nebivolol improves obesity-induced vascular remodeling by attenuating NLRP3 inflammasome activation and restoring the antioxidant defense.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Aorta / drug effects*
  • Aorta / metabolism
  • Aorta / physiopathology
  • Autophagy / drug effects
  • Diet, High-Fat
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Inflammasomes / drug effects*
  • Inflammasomes / metabolism
  • Male
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / metabolism*
  • Nebivolol / pharmacology*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / metabolism
  • Obesity / drug therapy*
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Obesity / physiopathology
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Phosphorylation
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Vascular Remodeling / drug effects*
  • Vasodilation / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Inflammasomes
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • Nlrp3 protein, rat
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3
  • Nebivolol
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
  • Nos3 protein, rat
  • mTOR protein, rat
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases